My Role

High-Throughput Tissue Mapping and Senescence Research:

• Assigned to the NIH-funded SenNet Project, focusing on Benchmarking and Tissue Mapping to study senescence by mapping the tissue environment of senescent cells in mice and humans using spatial proteomics with CODEX and spatial transcriptomics with Visium HD.

• Surgically extracted and processed organs (heart, brain, liver, spleen, bone marrow) from young and aged mice, utilizing Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fresh frozen techniques for downstream analyses.

• Designed antibody panels and optimized protocols for conjugation by using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), antigen retrieval, and immunostaining, enabling multiplex imaging to visualize over 60+ proteins on single tissue sections, revealing complex tissue architecture.

Advanced Assay Utilization and Cellular Analysis:

• Utilized the SPiDER-βGal Cellular Senescence assay to identify senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity in tissues, contributing to senescence research.

• Conducted the Visium HD Spatial Gene Expression assay on Fresh Frozen and FFPE tissues (gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior ) from young and aged mice, involving H & E staining, RNA extraction for acquiring the RNA integrity number, probe hybridization, ligation, and capture on Visium HD Slides, to analyze mRNA expression at the single-cell level for insights into senescence and neuromuscular disorders like Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy(FSHD).

Data Analysis and Laboratory Standardization:

• Performed advanced data analysis to detect and map tissue-related structural changes, including clustering, segmentation, and UMAP generation.

• Writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assays and experimental setups to standardize laboratory operations.

• Conducted extensive troubleshooting to streamline experimental workflows, resulting in more efficient and effective processes.

Antibody and Probe Validation:

• Validated and optimized antibodies, oligonucleotides, and probes to ensure high specificity and reliability, significantly enhancing data accuracy. 

Laboratory Management and Operational Support:

• Facilitated laboratory management, including inventory control, procurement of supplies, and coordination of EHS waste collection, maintaining smooth laboratory operations.

• Oversaw equipment maintenance and autoclaving processes, ensuring adherence to safety standards and optimal functioning of laboratory instruments.

Collaborative Research and Mentorship:

• Worked with diverse research teams across multiple laboratories, assisting in experimental design, antibody selection, conjugation, and CODEX-based spatial analysis to map tissue microenvironments—led efforts in optimizing staining techniques, and advancing cross-institutional projects.

• Mentored junior researchers in histological techniques, including immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF), providing hands-on training in tissue sectioning, staining, and microscopy for precise data acquisition and analysis.